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Q: What is your prediction for the game at Duquesne?

Sam Smith, Youngstown, Ohio

FITTIPALDO: If Duquesne gets off to a good start, I think Pitt will have its hands full all night. The game is at the Palumbo Center and it will be a sellout

crowd. If the Dukes give the fans a reason to get loud it could make it very difficult on the Panthers.

Pitt will play it smart. The Panthers will not get into an up-and-down track meet with the Dukes. If they have opportunities in transition they'll take them, but they'll be judicious.

The key to the game will be the way Levance Fields and Ronald Ramon handle the pressure and trapping of the Dukes. The Dukes have athletes and Fields and Ramon have struggled with full-court pressure in the past. Marquette and Louisville in particular gave them fits. I don't think the Dukes will be as athletic or good with their pressure, but they do pose some problems.

Prediction: I like Ramon to have a big game shooting and for Pitt to win 82-76.